Logen Ninefingers, infamous barbarian, has finally run out of luck. Caught in one feud too many, he’s on the verge of becoming a dead barbarian – leaving nothing behind him but bad songs, dead friends, and a lot of happy enemies. Nobleman, dashing officer, and paragon of selfishness, Captain Jezal dan Luthar has nothing more dangerous in mind than fleecing his friends at cards and dreaming of glory in the fencing circle. But war is brewing, and on the battlefields of the frozen North they fight by altogether bloodier rules. Inquisitor Glokta, cripple turned torturer, would like nothing better than to see Jezal come home in a box. But then Glokta hates everyone: cutting treason out of the Union one confession at a time leaves little room for friendship. His latest trail of corpses may lead him right to the rotten heart of government, if he can stay alive long enough to follow it. Enter the wizard, Bayaz. A bald old man with a terrible temper and a pathetic assistant, he could be the First of the Magi, he could be a spectacular fraud, but whatever he is, he's about to make the lives of Logen, Jezal, and Glotka a whole lot more difficult. Murderous conspiracies rise to the surface, old scores are ready to be settled, and the line between hero and villain is sharp enough to draw blood. Unpredictable, compelling, wickedly funny, and packed with unforgettable characters, The Blade Itself is noir fantasy with a real cutting edge.
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The Blade Itself
Logen Ninefingers, infamous barbarian, has finally run out of luck. Caught in one feud too many, he’s on the verge of becoming a dead barbarian – leaving nothing behind him but bad songs, dead friends, and a lot of happy enemies. Nobleman, dashing officer, and paragon of selfishness, Captain Jezal dan Luthar has nothing more dangerous in mind than fleecing his friends at cards and dreaming of glory in the fencing circle. But war is brewing, and on the battlefields of the frozen North they fight by altogether bloodier rules. Inquisitor Glokta, cripple turned torturer, would like nothing better than to see Jezal come home in a box. But then Glokta hates everyone: cutting treason out of the Union one confession at a time leaves little room for friendship. His latest trail of corpses may lead him right to the rotten heart of government, if he can stay alive long enough to follow it. Enter the wizard, Bayaz. A bald old man with a terrible temper and a pathetic assistant, he could be the First of the Magi, he could be a spectacular fraud, but whatever he is, he's about to make the lives of Logen, Jezal, and Glotka a whole lot more difficult. Murderous conspiracies rise to the surface, old scores are ready to be settled, and the line between hero and villain is sharp enough to draw blood. Unpredictable, compelling, wickedly funny, and packed with unforgettable characters, The Blade Itself is noir fantasy with a real cutting edge.
Popular Reviews(4)
Reviewed by UGA UGA BAM BAMHe sucked at his empty gums.
Reviewed by veganlanguageslutHope stirs, but trilogies warn me to tread lightly.
Reviewed by SickboyRobI rate Joe Abercrombie's *The Blade Itself*, the first book in the First Law trilogy, 4 out of 5 stars. Abercrombie’s work stands out for its modern language in a fantasy setting. The characters' realistic and practical nature shines through in how they perceive the world. One notable drawback is the initially slow plot development. However, Abercrombie focuses on character development, offering different points of view that enrich the narrative. Characters such as the torturer Sand dan Glokta undergo significant personal transformations. The political intrigue within the Union is well-developed. Abercrombie explores morally grey characters, power, and ambition. Despite a lack of traditionally heroic figures, the author makes even characters who commit terrible acts sympathetic.
Reviewed by Florenz Heldermann"The Blade itself" - toller Titel, viel besser als "Kriegsklingen", wie es im unpassend im Deutschen heißt - ist der erste Teil der "First Law" Reihe. Es geht um einen KriegerBarbarenBerserker, eine zahnlosen, verkrüppelten Inquisitor, einen eingebildeten Jüngling und einen scheinbar unsterblichen Magier. Wie das alles zusammen passt, ja, das erfährt man Ansatzweise kurz vor Schluss. Das Buch ist 500 Seiten lang, aber erst auf dem letzten Meter gibt es eine grobe Richtung. Sowas stört jemanden wie mich schon etwas, ohne eine Ziel erschien mir das Buch etwas ziellos. Ärgerlich, denn das Buch ist durchaus als Setup einer Fantasy Reihe geplant - weshalb sich dieser Teil stark auf World Building, Lore und Charakteren fokussiert. Und das war durchaus vielversprechend. Es gibt keine Schwarz/Weiss Zeichnung, Figuren entwickeln sich, und alles in allem würde ich gerne mehr von dieser Welt sehen. Insbesondere von dem Inquisitor, der scheinbar die magische Fähigkeit des Off-Kommentars besitzt.